2026 Edition

ASE A3 Practice Test

Take this free ASE A3 Practice Test to study for your ASE A3 certification exam.
The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) identifies Manual Drive Train and Axles as an individual service area for certification (A3). The diagnosis and repair of the following subjects are covered:

Clutch
Transmission
Drive Shaft/Half Shaft/Universal Joint
Drive Axle
Four Wheel/All Wheel Drive Components

There are 50 questions on the exam, 40 of which are scored, and 60 minutes is given to complete it.

To prepare for the ASE A3 exam, use Tests.com's ASE A3 Practice Test. It is written by Dr. John Kershaw, an ASE test question developer and ASE Certified Master Technician. Our interactive test platform allows you to simulate the exam. Take as many practice tests as you need. There's no time limit or recurrent charges.

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Clutch Diagnosis and Repair

1 Which of the following are the three critical clutch pedal measurements?

a. Pedal height, apply pressure, and free play

b. Pedal free play, reserve, and operating range

c. Pedal height, free play, and reserve

d. Pedal reserve, height, and kickback pressure

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

There is no apply pressure adjustment, operating range adjustment or kickback adjustment.

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2 Clutch slippage may be caused by which of the following?

a. Worn or rough clutch release bearing

b. Excessive input shaft end play

c. Leaking rear main seal

d. Weak or broken torsional springs

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

A leaking rear main seal will wet the friction surface of the clutch and cause slippage.

3 Which of the following must be replaced during the service of a hydraulically controlled clutch?

a. Input shaft

b. Pilot bearing

c. Clutch linkage

d. Clutch fluid

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Clutch fluid is the only maintenance item listed. All other choices must be defective for replacement.

4 A vehicle comes in with hard shifting concerns, particularly into first gear. Technician A says the first speed blocking ring is the MOST likely cause. Technician B says the clutch could be out of adjustment. Who is right?

a. A only

b. B only

c. Both A and B

d. Neither A nor B

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Technician B is correct because the clutch being out of adjustment will cause shifting problems particularly in the lower range gears. Technician A is wrong because a defective blocking ring generally does not cause shifting problems into first gear.

Transmission Diagnosis and Repair

5 If a transmission can be shifted into two gears at the same time, which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

a. Defective input bearing

b. Faulty interlock

c. Worn speed gears

d. Worn countershaft bearings

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Interlocks prevent engaging more than one gear at a time.

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6 What would be the MOST likely customer complaint for a damaged transmission case, center adapter plate or rear extension housing mating surface?

a. Jumps out of gear

b. Hard to shift

c. Will not shift

d. Oil leak

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Oil leaks will result from a damaged transmission case, center adapter plate or rear extension housing mating surface.

7 What disassembly operation is being performed in the photo below?

a. Removing the snap ring retaining the input shaft bearing

b. Removing the snap ring retaining the output shaft bearing

c. Removing the snap ring retaining the cluster gear bearing

d. Removing the snap ring retaining the reverse gear bearing

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

The operation shown in the photo is the removing of the snap ring that retains the input shaft bearing.

8 The manual transmission fluid is being checked during a routine maintenance. Technician A says gold-colored particles in the fluid can be from worn blocking rings. Technician B says aluminum colored shavings can be from the gear wear. Who is right?

a. A only

b. B only

c. Both A and B

d. Neither A nor B

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Both technicians are correct.

Transaxle Diagnosis and Repair

9 What is being checked in the illustration below?

a. Differential side bearing preload

b. Input and output shaft bearing preload

c. Nominal play from input shaft

d. Differential side bearing play

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

An inch pound torque wrench is being used to check differential side bearing preload.

10 This question has the word EXCEPT. For this question, look for the choice that could NOT cause the described situation. Read the entire question carefully before choosing your answer. All of these components can be removed from a transmission/transaxle before removing it from the vehicle, EXCEPT:

a. Vehicle speed sensor

b. Reverse (backup) light connector

c. Front bearing retainer (quill)

d. Axle drive shafts

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

The front bearing retainer component cannot be removed from a transmission/transaxle before removing it from the vehicle.

11 Two technicians are discussing snap rings used in manual transaxles. Technician A says snap rings are used as a selective fit on some main shafts. Technician B says snap rings have a "right side" that should always face up so that the snap ring pliers can be applied. Who is right?

a. A only

b. B only

c. Both A and B

d. Neither A nor B

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Both technicians are correct.

12 A transaxle jumps out of gear under load. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

a. Worn or broken synchronizers

b. Clutch not adjusted correctly

c. Shift linkage is maladjusted, worn or loose

d. Transmission cover springs are weak

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Shift linkage that is maladjusted, worn or loose will cause a transaxle to jump out of gear. A and B cause hard shifting and D will cause a noise in reverse.

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Drive Shaft and Joints Diagnosis and Repair

13 Technician A says u-joints must be in phase to prevent vibration. Technician B says when re-assembling a drive shaft the u-joints do not have to be in alignment for proper operation provided they are greased with the proper lubricant. Who is right?

a. A only

b. B only

c. Both A and B

d. Neither A nor B

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Technician A is correct because u-joints must be in phase to avoid vibration because they will not cancel each other out. Technician B is wrong because they must be in alignment or a vibration will result.

14 Technician A says a vibration at high speed can be caused by an incorrect rear "U" joint operating angle. Technician B says a squeaking noise in reverse is caused by a worn cross shaft bearing surface. Who is right?

a. A only

b. B only

c. Both A and B

d. Neither A nor B

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Both technicians are right.

15 Technician A says the drive shafts on a FWD (front wheel drive) vehicle are usually removed with a pry bar or special puller. Technician B says the axle nuts on a FWD vehicle are NOT reusable. Who is right?

a. A only

b. B only

c. Both A and B

d. Neither A nor B

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Both technicians are correct.

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16 Two technicians are discussing axle drive shaft removal on a vehicle with a transaxle. Technician A says that, when removing the axle, drive shafts match marks should be made to prevent a vibration after reassembly. Technician B says the front wheel bearings could be damaged if the vehicle is moved while the drive shafts are removed. Who is right?

a. A only

b. B only

c. Both A and B

d. Neither A nor B

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Technician B is correct because when the axle drive shafts are removed from the front axles, the bearings are not supported. Technician A is wrong because match marks are not necessary because the axles are not timed.

Rear Wheel Drive Axle Diagnosis and Repair

17 A growling sound is heard from the rear of a rear-wheel-drive vehicle during cornering only. Technician A says incorrect drive pinion bearing preload could be the cause. Technician B says defective rear axle bearings may be the cause. Who is right?

a. A only

b. B only

c. Both A and B

d. Neither A nor B

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Technician B is correct because rear wheel bearing noise is heard while cornering. Technician A is wrong because a preload problem would be heard going straight not cornering.

18 What rear axle measurement is being performed in the photo?

a. Side bearing preload

b. Backlash

c. Ring gear runout

d. Gear tooth pattern

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Checking the backlash is shown in the photo.

19 What rear axle measurement is being performed in the photo?

a. Side bearing preload

b. Backlash

c. Ring gear runout

d. Gear tooth pattern

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Checking the tooth pattern is shown in the photo.

20 The ring gear to pinion backlash is less than specifications (too low). This will cause the ring gear tooth pattern to show contact in which of the following areas of the ring gear?

a. Toe contact on concave and convex sides

b. Heel contact on concave and convex sides

c. Flank contact on concave and convex sides

d. Face contact on concave and convex sides

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

When the pinion is set to the correct depth and there is too little clearance between the pinion and ring gear the ring gear tooth pattern will show toe contact on both concave and convex sides.

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Four-Wheel and All-Wheel Component Diagnosis and Repair

21 The owner of an older 4WD (four-wheel-drive) truck that uses Cardan U-joints to drive the front wheels complains that whenever turning sharply and accelerating rapidly a severe vibration is created. Technician A says the rear drive shaft may be out-of-balance. Technician B says this is a normal condition for Cardan U-joints used on early 4WD vehicles. Who is right?

a. A only

b. B only

c. Both A and B

d. Neither A nor B

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Technician B is correct because this is normal if conventional Cardan U-joints are used to drive the front wheels. Technician A is wrong because a rear drive shaft imbalance will not cause an out of balance driveshaft, which would vibrate all of the time.

22 Two technicians are discussing the front axle neutral position on a FWD (four wheel drive) pickup truck. Technician A says the front axles are disconnected if the vehicle is being towed. Technician B says the neutral position is also used on an AWD (all-wheel-drive) vehicle. Who is right?

a. A only

b. B only

c. Both A and B

d. Neither A nor B

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Technician A is correct because the front axles are only disconnected if the vehicle is being towed. Technician B is wrong because all-wheel-drive vehicles do not use a neutral position, they are always in gear an use a differential that allows towing.

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23 A transfer case is extremely noisy in all selections except neutral (N) whenever the vehicle is moving. Technician A says the drive chain may be worn and loose causing the noise as it hits the inside of the case. Technician B says a transfer case bearing could be defective. Who is right?

a. A only

b. B only

c. Both A and B

d. Neither A nor B

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Both technicians are correct.

24 A transfer case will not shift from the low gear ratio up to direct drive or 1:1 ratio. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

a. Broken shift shaft spring

b. Faulty shift indicator

c. Damaged planetary gearset

d. Broken shift shaft

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Of the answer options, a broken shift shaft is the MOST likely cause if a transfer case will not shift from the low gear ratio up to direct drive or a 1:1 ratio.